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Guide · Car accidents
Soft Tissue Injury Claims After a Car Accident
Yes, you can claim for a soft tissue injury caused by a car accident that wasn't your fault. Soft tissue injuries to the neck, back or shoulder lasting up to 2 years count as whiplash in law, and are valued using fixed tariff amounts of £275 to £4,975. Other soft tissue injuries, such as knee, wrist or ankle sprains, and injuries lasting longer, are valued using the Judicial College Guidelines. You can also claim for your financial losses.
This guide explains what counts as a soft tissue injury, which way yours is likely to be valued, and the evidence that helps.
- Whiplash in law
- Soft tissue injuries to the neck, back or shoulder
- Other soft tissue injuries
- Valued using the Judicial College Guidelines
- Exceptional cases
- The tariff can be increased by up to 20%
- Time limit
- Usually 3 years
What is a soft tissue injury?
A soft tissue injury is damage to the muscles, tendons and ligaments that support your body, rather than to your bones. In a car accident, the sudden jolt can stretch, strain or tear these tissues. Common examples include:
- Whiplash, causing neck pain, stiffness and headaches
- Muscle strains in the back, neck or shoulders
- Ligament sprains in the knee, wrist or ankle
- Shoulder injuries, such as rotator cuff damage
- Deep bruising from the seatbelt, steering wheel or dashboard
Soft tissue injuries don't show on an ordinary X-ray, but they can be just as painful as a fracture and can take as long to heal.
How soft tissue injuries are valued
There are two ways a soft tissue injury from a road accident can be valued, depending on where it is and how long it lasts.
The whiplash tariff
Under the Civil Liability Act 2018, a soft tissue injury to the neck, back or shoulder counts as whiplash. For drivers and passengers of cars and other motor vehicles (but not motorbikes), whiplash lasting up to 2 years is valued using fixed amounts set by law.
A court can increase the amount by up to 20% in exceptional circumstances.
The Judicial College Guidelines
Other soft tissue injuries, such as knee, wrist or ankle injuries, are valued individually using the guidelines courts use. So are injuries lasting more than 2 years.
Cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians aren't covered by the tariff, so all their injuries are valued this way.
A soft tissue injury to the shoulder counts as whiplash too, so it's valued using the tariff if it lasts up to 2 years. But if a soft tissue injury is linked to another injury, such as a fracture, it's valued with that injury instead.
Whiplash and other injuries together
If you have whiplash and another injury, such as a knee ligament sprain, the whiplash is valued using the tariff and the other injury using the guidelines. The court then looks at the overall amount to make sure it's fair.
If the total value of your injuries is £5,000 or less, and you're an adult driver or passenger, your claim will usually go through the government's Official Injury Claim service. Children's claims don't go through that service. See how much is a car accident claim worth?
Long-term soft tissue injuries
Most soft tissue injuries get better within months, but some don't.
Lasting more than 2 years
Whiplash that lasts longer than 2 years falls outside the tariff and is valued individually using the guidelines.
Chronic pain
Some people develop long-term pain after a soft tissue injury. With the right medical evidence, this can be claimed for.
Existing conditions made worse
If the accident made an existing problem worse, such as back pain, you can claim for the extra harm it caused.
Evidence for a soft tissue injury claim
Because soft tissue injuries don't show on an X-ray, medical evidence is especially important.
- Get checked promptlySymptoms often get worse over the first few days, so see your GP or go to A&E or a minor injuries unit as soon as you can, and explain how the accident happened.
- The medical reportAn independent medical expert will examine you and report on your injury and how long it's likely to last. In whiplash claims, the report must come from an expert accredited through MedCo.
- Treatment recordsPhysiotherapy notes and any scans, such as an MRI, help show how serious the injury is.
- A symptom diaryNote your pain, sleep and what you can't do each day.
- Evidence from the accidentPhotos, dashcam footage and witness details. Ask for any CCTV to be kept quickly, as it's often recorded over.
Financial losses you can claim
Whichever way your injury is valued, you can also claim for the financial losses it caused, including:
Lost earnings
Pay you've lost while recovering, and future earnings if you can't work as before.
Treatment
Physiotherapy, prescriptions and other treatment you've paid for.
Travel
Getting to medical appointments and physiotherapy.
Care and vehicle costs
Help from family, your insurance excess, repairs and, in some cases, a hire car.
Keep every receipt and payslip from the date of the accident. See general and special damages.
Compensation guide
How much compensation could I get for a soft tissue injury?
For whiplash injuries to the neck, back or shoulder lasting up to 2 years, the amounts are fixed by law. For accidents on or after 31 May 2025, they are:
| How long the injury lasts | Whiplash only | With minor psychological injury |
|---|---|---|
| Not more than 3 months | £275 | £300 |
| 3 to 6 months | £565 | £595 |
| 6 to 9 months | £965 | £1,025 |
| 9 to 12 months | £1,510 | £1,595 |
| 12 to 15 months | £2,335 | £2,435 |
| 15 to 18 months | £3,445 | £3,550 |
| 18 to 24 months | £4,830 | £4,975 |
Other soft tissue injuries, and whiplash lasting longer than 2 years, are valued using the Judicial College Guidelines. Indicative ranges include:
| Injury type | Severity | Indicative compensation range |
|---|---|---|
| Whiplash / neck injurySymptoms lasting longer, or needing ongoing treatment | Moderate (ongoing symptoms) | £5,750 – £33,020 |
| Back injuryDisc, ligament or muscle damage with longer-lasting symptoms | Moderate | £16,520 – £51,230 |
| Shoulder injurySoft tissue damage, frozen shoulder or restricted movement | Minor to moderate | £5,750 – £16,870 |
| Knee injuryTwisting, bruising or ligament injuries, including some ongoing aching | Minor to moderate | Up to £34,600 |
| Wrist injuryFractures or soft tissue injuries, with or without lasting stiffness | Minor to moderate | £4,670 – £32,370 |
How to read these figures
- The tariff amounts are set by the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021, as updated for accidents on or after 31 May 2025. Lower amounts apply to accidents before that date. A court can increase them by up to 20% in exceptional circumstances.
- All other figures are taken from the Judicial College Guidelines (18th edition, April 2026).
- These are for pain, suffering and loss of amenity only. You can also claim for financial losses, such as lost earnings and treatment.
- Every claim is different. The amount you receive depends on your medical evidence and circumstances, and past results don't guarantee future outcomes.
Soft tissue injury claims: FAQs
Can I claim for a soft tissue injury after a car accident?
Yes. If a car accident that wasn't your fault caused a soft tissue injury, such as whiplash, a muscle strain or a ligament sprain, you can usually claim against the at-fault driver's insurer for your injury and your financial losses.
Does a shoulder injury count as whiplash?
A soft tissue injury to the shoulder does. Under the Civil Liability Act 2018, whiplash includes soft tissue injuries to the neck, back or shoulder, so a shoulder sprain or strain lasting up to 2 years is valued using the tariff. A shoulder fracture or dislocation isn't whiplash, and is valued using the guidelines.
How much compensation could I get for a soft tissue injury?
For whiplash to the neck, back or shoulder lasting up to 2 years, fixed amounts of £275 to £4,975 apply for accidents on or after 31 May 2025, depending on how long it lasts. Other soft tissue injuries are valued using the Judicial College Guidelines. Financial losses are added on top.
What if I have whiplash and a knee injury?
Each injury is valued separately. The whiplash is valued using the tariff, and the knee injury using the guidelines. The court then checks the total is fair for the overall effect of your injuries.
What if my symptoms last more than 2 years?
Whiplash that lasts longer than 2 years falls outside the tariff, and is valued individually using the Judicial College Guidelines, based on the medical evidence.
Do I need a solicitor for a small whiplash claim?
Not necessarily. If your injuries are worth £5,000 or less, you can claim yourself through the Official Injury Claim service. A solicitor is more likely to help if you have other injuries, your symptoms are long-lasting, or the other side disputes blame. See do I need a personal injury solicitor?
Hurt in a car accident?
Talk to our team for free, with no obligation. We'll look at your injuries and give you an honest view of your claim and how it's likely to be valued. Eligible claims are handled on a No Win No Fee basis.